Phonograph control device



Ht K. SANDELL.

PHONOGHAFH CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.3. I9I9.

Patented J une 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

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PHONOGRAPH CONTROL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 1350.3. Ima.

atented June 14, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY IK. SANDELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HERBERT S. MILLS, OF

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHONOGRAIH CONTROL DEVICE.

Speccationof Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed -December 3, 1919. Serial No. 342,250.

T o all w kom t may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, I-IENRY K. SANDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful VImprovement in Phonograph Control Devices, (Case B,) of which the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to devices for controlling the operation of phono* graphs, and more particularly to those whereby the rotation of the support for the sound record is-started and stopped by the movement of the reproducer arm.

In accordance withV the present invention, the rotation of the support for the sound record is controlled by the movement of the tone-arm or arm carrying the reproducer. Movement of this arm in. one direction causes the sound record support t0 rotate when the arm approaches. a predetermined position, and movement of the arm in the opposite direction causes the rotation of the sound record support to cease, likewise when the arm approaches a predetermined position. T he movement of the armvwithin the predetermined positions does not in any way affect the rotation of the sound record support, which consequently, if in rotation, continues to rotate. until the tone or reproducer-arm has reached the stopping position, and if at rest, remains at rest until the tone or reproducer-arm has reached the starting position. In the accompanying drawings, the invention is illustratedv in a specific embodiment, as applied to devices wherein any suitable mechanical means is employedI for the rotation of the sound record support, which rotation is stopped by the application of a suitable braking device. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is. a plan view of a devlce embodying the present invention, a portion of the cabinet inclosing the same being broken away ;,V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 isa detail view, in vertical section, of the tone-arm support and the brake;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the interior of the toneearm support, the support itself being sectioned;

Figs. 5 and 6V are bottom plan views of the support containing the control mechanism, in two different positions, of operation of the brake, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 of Fig. 3. Referring Ymore particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 lindicates a suitable cabinet, upon the top 11 of which the tonearmand its support are mounted. Through a. suitable opening in the top 11 a rotatable shaft 12 protrudes, upon which is mounted the sound-record support, indicated as a telt covered table 13. Upon this any suitable record 14 of the disk type may be placed. The supporting table 13 and the shaft 12 are driven by any suitable means, such as a mechanical or spring motor concealed below the top of the cabinet, and not shown in the present drawings.

A tone or reprodueer arm 15 which is capable of a limited oscillatory movement both in the horizontal and vertical planes, is mounted upon a suitable support 16 in such manner as to coperate with the sound record 14 placed upon the table 13. It is provided in the usual manner with a reproducer stylus 17 which rests upon the record during the playing operation. The reproducer .arm 15 is mounted as hereinafter described,

in such manner that its outward and inward movements are limited, for example, at points A and B respectively, as indicated in F ig. 1. These limits are so selectedV that the arm may be moved beyond the outermost record groove of records of the usual type, and may likewise be moved to a point within the innermost record groove of such records.

As illustrated in the present embodiment of the invention, the reproducer arm 15 may be attached to a conduit section 15a forming the socket member of a joint or elbow of the sound conduit, and capable of rocking on a horizontal axis upon the head 18 of the vertical conduit section 19 forming the other portion of the elbow or joint ofthe conduit. The vertical conduit section 19 may be suitably provided with a shoulder 20 which rests upon the bell-shaped support 16, and may be rotated thereupon. This support 16 is attached to the top of the cabinet by any suitable means, for example, by means of the bolts 21. The lower end of the conduit section 19 extends into the bell support 16, fitting within a vertical tube or conduit section 22, which is rigidly attached within the support 16, for example, by means of the horizontally extending lugs 23 which are screwed to the internally proj ecting shoulders 16 of the support 16. The lowerportion of the vertical tube 22 is enlarged, a shoulder 23a being thereby provided, and the interior of the conduit section is tapered outwardly to provide a suitable connection to the amplifier. At a suitable point, preferably near its upper extremity, the tube section 22 is provided with a horizontal slot 24, through which the head 25 of a pin 26 attached to the movable conduitsection 2O protrudes. The tube section 22 is likewise provided with a vertical slot 27 extending from the horizontal slot 24 to its top, to permit the entrance of the head of the pin in assembling the device. As the tube section 22 is fixed in position relative to the conduit section 19, the edges of the slot 24 limit the movement of the pin 26 and thereby limit the movement of the tone-arm attached to the conduit section 19 about a vertical axis.

In the present embodiment of the invention control of the rotation of the record support is effected by means of a suitable mechanical brake, the operation of which is controlled by the movement of thc tonearm as it -approaches its limiting positions A and B, Fig. 1. As illustrated, the brake comprises a stem or rod 28 provided with a friction button 29, the rod protruding through an opening 30 in the support 16 into its interior. Within the support 16, the brake stem 28 is suitably attached to an actuating member, the operation of which is controlled by the movement of the tonearm to cause the engagement or disengagement of the brake and the edge of the table 13.

`As illustrated this actuating member consists of a ring of generally elliptical shape which encircles the tube 22 and may if desired, be formed integrally with the brake stem 28. At a suitable point, preferably opposite the brake stem 28, it is provided with an additional projecting stem or lug 32, which passes into Yan opening 33 formed in the support 16. A coiled spring 34 is interposed between the interior wall of the support 16 and the member 31, encircling the projecting stem 32, and exerting a pressure ytending to force the member 31 and with it the brake stem 28 toward the table 13. The

inside surface of member 31 is formed with a camy surface indicated by the numerals 36, 37, which cam surfaces are engaged by a suitable projection or roller 38 which is attached to a slide 39 mounted upon the conduit section 22 by mea-ns of spaced collars 40 and 41, preferably formed integrally with said slide. The lowermost collar 40 rides upon'the shoulder 23 of the tube section 22. The slide 39 is provided with a slot 42 which is positioned in front of slot 24 of the tube section 22, and is of less angular width than the latterrslot. The head 25 of the pin26, mounted in the conduit section 20, projects through the slot 42 as well as through the slot, 24. Movement of the reproducer arm produces a corresponding movement of the pin 26, this movement being limited b the width of the fixed slot 24. As the pm 25 approaches the limit of its movement in either direction, it contacts with an edge of the slot 42 of the slide 39, and in continuing'its movement to its limit, carries with it theslide, thereby moving the projection or roller 38 over the cam surfaces 36 and 37 on the brake actuating member 31.

The total angular movement of the slide 39 and consequentlyof the projection 38 is relatively slight, being the difference betweenthe angular widthv of the slot 24 and the angular width of the slot 42.Y The cam surfaces 36 rand 37 of the Vbrake actuating member 31 are so placed that this relatively slight angular movement of the member 38 causes the brake stem 28 Yto be pulled away from the table 13 against the resistance offered by the spring 34, when the roller V38 climbs from the more remote cam surface 36 to the less remote surface 37, orpermits the brake stem 28 to impinge against the table when the opposite movement of the roller 38 takes place, the force of the spring 34 then being permitted play.V The movement of the brake takes place only when the tone-arm approaches the limit of its movements A and B. Assuming that a record is being played, and a reproducer arm is moving over the record toward the position B, the lost motion connection between the head 25 of pin 26 and the slot 42 of Slide 39 permits this movement to continue without affecting the brake until the reproducer arm approaches the position B. Movement of the slide is then effected with the result that the roller 38 moves away from the cam surface 37 over the cam surface 36 of the brake actuating member 31, and the spring 34 forces the latter forward, the brake stem 28 being thereby thrust against the rotating table to stop the latter. If the tone-arm is then moved outwardly toward the position A, by reason of the same lost motion connection, there is no movement of the slide 39 until the reproducer arm approaches the position A. The slide 39 is then moved to cause the roller 38 to climb upon cam surface 37, thereby pushing back the brake actuating member 31 against the vforce of spring 34, which results. in likewise pushing back the brake stem `28 and permitting rotation of the table. In actual operation the position of the table and the length of the brake stem 28 are so selectedthat when the friction button 29 of the brake stem is in contact with the edge of the table, the roller 38 does not quite contact with the cam surface 36, thereby permitting the full force of the spring 34 to be exerted in the braking action.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is not intended that the details of construction set forth are to be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention, except in so far as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph, in combination, a rotatable record support, a movable reproducer arm, a conduit section movable therewith, a slide, engaging means carried by the movable conduit section capable of engaging the slide only as the reproducer arm approaches the limits of-its movement, a brake capable of engaging the record support, and a brake actuating member engaged by the slide in its movement to disengage the brake from the support.

2. In a phonograph, in combination, a rotatable record support, a pivotally mounted reproducer arm, a conduit section axially alined with the pivotal center of the reproducer arm and movable therewith, a slide surrounding said conduit section, engaging means carried by the movable conduit section capable of engaging the slide only as the reproducer arm approaches the limits of its movement, a brake capable of engaging the record support, and a brake actuating member engaged by the slide in its movement to disengage the brake from the suport.

p 3. In a phonograph, in combination, a rotatable record support, a movable reproducer arm, a conduit section movable therewith, a slide, engaging means-carried by said conduit section and capable of engaging the slide only as the reproducer arm approaches the limits of its movement, a brake capable of engaging the support, and an annular brake actuating member surrounding the conduit section and having an internal cam surface engaged by the slide in its movement to disengage the brake from the support.

4. In a phonograph, in combination, a rotatable record support, a movable reproducer arm, a conduit section movable therewith, a slide provided with a slot, a pin carried by the movable conduit section and passing through the slot in the slide Whereby the latter is moved only as the reproducer arm approaches the limits of its movement, a brake capable of engaging the record support, an annular brake actuating member surrounding the conduit section and having an internal cam surface engaged by the slide in its movement to disengage the brake from the support or to permit its engagement and a spring acting upon said brake actuating member to force the brake into engagement with the record support.

5. In a phonograph, in combination, a rotatable record support, a pivotally mounted reproducer arm, a conduit section communicating therewith and axially alined With the pivot of Said arm, a movable slide formed to embrace said conduit section, said slide being provided with a brake shoe capable of engaging the record support, means for forcing said slide in a direction to cause said brake shoe to engage the record support, and means carried by the conduit section to actuate the slide to cause the brake shoe to engage or disengage the record support as the reproducer arm approaches the limits of its movement.

HENRY K. SANDELL. 

